Samuel Frid was born in Mexico City in 1935 to Polish and Russian parents. He was a successful business man in Mexico, and in 1983 he immigrated to Vancouver with his wife, Esther, and his three children. While in Vancouver, Samuel Frid was finally able to delve into a longstanding interest in the arts: first as a gallery owner and collector, and eventually as a jewellery designer and artist. The works in this exhibition focus on pieces made primarily out of volcanic stone and silver. Between 2002 and 2010, Samuel Frid designed numerous lyrical sculptures and elegant utilitarian objects made of obsidian, an igneous rock from the Teotihuacán region of the central Mexico Valley. Teotihuacán is situated near Mexico City and it is the archaeological site where Mexico’s largest pyramids are located— the pyramid of the Sun and the Moon. Obsidian is a naturally occurring black glass that is lustrous and smooth. It is so glossy that Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans were thought to have used it as a mirror. It was also used to fashion a wide range of things from lades to jewellery beads and vases. Following on the latter tradition of making both utilitarian and aesthetic objects out of this material, Samuel Frid traveled to Mexico on frequent and extended occasions with the intention to cultivate his interest in design and in this material. He met and became friends with the Martínez family, whom he dubbed “Artisans of the Sun.” The Martínez family has a workshop near the archaeological zone of Teotihuacan, and they are part of an extended lineage of artisans who work with obsidian and quartz. In 2002 Samuel Frid began to design vessels and figurines that were carved by the Martinez family, initiating collaboration with these highly skilled artisans. At that time, he had already established a working relationship with Mr. Villesca, a silversmith of great skill. This is how he began to design works that would combine the expertise of two artisan traditions. What you see in this exhibition is but a small sampling of some of the works that Samuel Frid was able to design and produce in Mexico over a period of 8 years. In addition to silver and obsidian, some of these pieces also incorporate the use of other mineral encrustations such as Tiger’s Eye and mother of pearl.

Teotihuacán was a magical place for Samuel Frid. He liked to point out that it was not called “the City of the Gods” merely on a whim. Many of his works were inspired by what he came to understand as a living culture, one stemming from the pre-Columbian past but kept alive by present day inhabitants of the valley of Mexico, a place surrounded by volcanoes, which over centuries have spewed numerous obsidian deposits. Samuel Frid saw his work as a dialogue between a personal subjective vision and past and present day art forms.

Samuel Frid wrote: "At the beginning of the 21st century I choose to work in a technique that is rooted many centuries in the past. I came to this practice by means of an inner creative calling that had been repressed for many years due to the obligations of work. I felt the urge and passion that arises from simply having to express creativity without the pressures of financial ends. I wanted to understand the works of the past by making them alive in a present day context. I come from a Jewish culture that has existed and evolved over centuries, and in Mexico I encountered historic civilizations that had also existed and evolved into the complex post-­colonial and cosmopolitan culture that comprises present day Mexico City. I sought to tap into and find my place in relation to my cultural roots including the Pre- Columbian marvels that I admire. I hope that my own contribution reflects this larger context. Art, in whatever forms it is deployed, is the living history of humanity. I do not consider myself an artist. My work is the transformation that results from what already exists and from my imagination. The first time that I dared to express myself in this way and I saw what I was able to create was a profoundly gratifying surprise. This is how I have continued to find the motivation to go on with the creative work. My wife Esther has inspired me and she has prompted me to exhibit what I have made. I hope that with the little context that I have given you, you come to appreciate and interpret the work I present to you."

Samuel Frid wrote the above text for an exhibition of his works shown at the Jewish Sports Center in Mexico City in November 2007. This successful exhibition was recognized for its lyricism, imagination and beauty. Samuel Frid passed away in Vancouver on May 21, 2010 after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. The pieces that comprise this exhibition are part of the rich legacy he left behind.